Man, Mule or Monkey?

God created the donkey and told him: "You
will work tirelessly from sun-up to sundown, carrying heavy bags on your back. You will
eat grass, you will have intelligence, and you will live for 50 years. You will be a
DONKEY."

The donkey answered: "I'll be
a donkey, but 50 years is too long.
Please give me only 20 years."

God complied.

God created the dog and told him: "You will look after
Man's
house. You will be his best friend and will eat what ever he gives you. You will live for
25 years and you will be a DOG."

The dog answered: "I'll be a dog, but 25 years is too
long. Please
give me only 10 years."

God complied.

God created the monkey and told him: "You will jump
from branch to branch. You will do silly things and be amuseing. You will live for 20
years and you will be a MONKEY."

The monkey answered: "I'll be a monkey, but 20 years is
too long.
Please give me only 10 years."

God complied.

Finally God created Man and told him: "You will be Man,
the only rational being on this earth. You will use your intelligence to control other
animals; you will dominate the world and will live for 21 years."

And the Man answered: "God, I will be Man, but living
21 years is not enough. Why not give me the 30 years that the donkey refused, the 15 years
that the dog did not want, and the 10 years given up by the monkey."

After some consideration, God decided to grant man his
request.

As a result, Man today lives 21 years as a man. Then he
marries and spends 30 years like a donkey, working and carrying heavy loads. Then when his
children are grown and gone, he spends 15 years looking after his house and eating
whatever is given to him. Finally, when he has grown old, he retires and spends the next
10 years like a monkey, jumping from house to house or from children to children, doing
silly things to amuse the grandchildren.